#HTE

Hyundai’s Teased Electric Scooter Is A Cool Final Mile Concept

Compared with last year’s CES and Detroit Auto Show, this year has seen a lot less odd concept vehicles and last mile design. One neat 2017 standout has been the mysterious but fun Ioniq scooter teased by Hyundai at CES. The company’s line of Ioniq electric vehicles is plugging along without too much disruption or distinction, but their Project Ioniq scooter aims to add some fun lateral thinking back into the sustainability conversation. 

As suggested, the Ioniq scooter would work as a last mile accompaniment for commuters, mitigate parking bullshit, and offer an alternative to driving medium distances. It would integrate into the side panel of its compatriot Ioniq car to charge and store, like a blocky co-evolved parasite. It appears to fold and unfold into a smoothly moving adult-friendly tool. And it would ostensibly be easy and light enough to make daily carry not a hassle. The current design looks a tad unwieldy without a handle or shoulder strap, but if anything that makes me suppose this concept is farther along than sexy CAD.

Adding electric assist and data to the scooter might make it a more versatile option than its lo-fi counterparts, but the pitch is vague enough that we can’t really tell. What we do know is that (as pitched) it folds, it displays mileage and charge stats, users control speed using the right hand thumb dial, and it recharges in an in-car docking station. 

Please note high tech thumb-speed shifter

What its speed, range, weight, price or alternate charging mechanisms might be are all a ??? cloud for now. A bit frustrating, but if “mobility” is as much of a theme as major manufacturers have been hammering for the last couple years, I’d like to see more thinking like this from them.